Glucagon secretion is essential for aminoacid-induced hyperfiltration in man

The role of glucagon as a mediator of aminoacid-induced alteration of renal haemodynamics was evaluated in man in three different protocols. In the first it was shown that the increase in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and renal plasma flow (RPF) observed during an aminoacid infusion was prevented by the additional infusion of somatostatin (SRIF), but reproduced by a glucagon infusion in the presence of SRIF. In the second protocol it was shown that, at variance with normal subjects, six totally pancreatectomised patients, thus deprived of pancreatic glucagon secretion, did not increase their GFR and RPF when infused with amino-acids, whereas they exhibited the expected hyperfiltration when infused with glucagon. In the third protocol it was shown that glucagon infusion in a renal artery did not alter the homolateral renal haemodynamics. It is concluded that glucagon secretion is a mandatory step in the cascade of events linking the infusion of aminoacids to the renal hyperfiltration. Other steps beyond glucagon secretion are necessarily involved because glucagon has no direct renal effect.